One Christian Dad

Musings about christian things...

Advent 4th Sunday

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It is the 4th Sunday of Advent.  I normally do not blog on Sunday, but someone asked if I could post this, and since I forgot to post it yesterday.

Scripture Reading:   1 John 1:1-7; John 12:46; 2 Peter 1:19

Devotional:

If you are using an advent wreath light the first candle:  This light represents the light of the hope that was promised to God’s people.  The hope of a saviour.  Light the second candle: This light represents the Love of God.  His Love for us in spite of our sin.  Light the third candle: The third candle represents the Joy we have in Jesus. Light the fourth candle: This candle represents the peace we have in Jesus

Q. Did you know that Jesus was alive long before he was born to Mary?

When the apostle John was an old man he wrote a letter to the church while he was in Ephesus:

“Christ was alive from the very beginning, yet I myself have heard Him speak. I have seen Him with my eyes and touched Him with my hands. He is God’s message of Life.

When He, who is the Life from God, came down to earth, we saw Him and can tell you with certainty that He came down from His Father in heaven and appeared to us.

This message, which we heard from Him, we now pass on to you: God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him but carry on living in spiritual darkness, we are only fooling ourselves. But if we live in the light as He is in the light, we enjoy a wonderful friendship with each other. The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, makes us completely clean from every sin.”

Jesus is God.  He has no beginning and no end.  Yet he became a man because God loved us so much.

Q.  What was the darkness that Jesus came take us out of?

Sin was the darkness.  Sin is disobeying God’s commands.

Q.  Can you think of some things that you do that are sinful?

It is wonderful that Jesus came to be punished for our sins so that we can be in the light with him.

At this time of year the days are shorter (where we live/ or in Canada etc.) and the evenings are as a dark as night.  It is cold and dark outside. But we also see lots of pretty lights on houses and trees, and candles at this time of year.  Even the smallest candle will light up a room, and a house with lots of Christmas lights on it can shine very brightly in the neighbourhood.

Q.  How can these lights remind us of Jesus?

Jesus came as a light to our world, which had been darkened by sin and death. Like a candle can light up a dark room, Jesus brought the Good News of God’s salvation; shining the light of hope in a dark world. In 2 peter 1:19 we read, ”And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Q. Can you think of ways to help shine the light of Jesus in the World?

We have four candles lit now.  And that is a lot of light!  We had Hope, Love, Joy and now we have peace. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus is the prince of peace. We also learned that Jesus is God! We can have great peace because Jesus came to reconcile us to God.  And  since Jesus is God, that means that God loved us so much that he came to pay for our sins himself!  Isn’t that amazing?Jesus is God, and he loves us so much that he has paid for our sins so that we can be at peace with Him!

Sing:

Please choose your own songs or use the suggestions below.  Videos at the end.

Hymn 72 “Behold the Amazing Gift of Love” & Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Capture

Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

Prayer:

Ideas to add to your prayer:

  • Praise God for goodness; praise him for His love, and mercy
  • Confess that we are sinful people, that we are not always the salt and light we are called to be,
  • Thank God for the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
  • Thank God for sending his son to bear our flesh and curse
  • Thank God for the Holy Spirit to work faith in us and cause us to be salt, and cause us to shine with his light, and to grow the fruit of  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
  • Ask God help us to be alike a light on the hill, shining before all men;
  • Ask God to strengthen our faith and help us show salt and ligth to our neighbour not only at Christmas time but all the time.
  • Ask God for peace on earth.

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